In Defence of Facebook ( worth the Read)
My only niggle with Facebook is that they are not mobile responsive. In our mobile world, it seems incomprehensible strategically.
Then again, they are so big, do they have to worry about the users experience?
I have seen much dissatisfaction with Facebook over the last couple of years, and there is not a week go by without someone expressing bad experiences.
A summary of defense.
As soon as you introduce GSC ( Google search console ) to your web properties, you have crossed a line, gone from hobbyist to someone that is seriously professionally approaching their online business.
You have become a mini Google, collecting information, and the behavioral patterns of your visitors. Hopefully, you are using that info to leverage your position.
Google and Facebook do the same thing; they collect data on a massive scale. The average user would have no idea the depth that they go.
It is a modern business. Information and, more importantly, data and the analysis of is the currency of the internet.
There are some consistencies to understand!
If you publish sales copy thinking it is content, you will get the sack, do it here at WA, do it on Pinterest, you get the sack, do it on Google, you will get the sack, do it on Facebook and you will get the sack.
Become a recidivist offender, and you will get the DCM ( don't come Monday )
The issue can be to understand that all web properties are businesses, or they are representing businesses. Making money is the order of the day in any industry.
We need to identify that the average internet user is a potential customer. There are way more customers than businesses trying to sell and promote products online successfully.
Point in focus
Had a friend in Amway back in the day, I stopped being a friend, and, in his eyes, and became a prospect, a lead, a possible conversion. It got to the stage where you knew he was going to be at an event you wouldn't go. He came to his senses when he ran out of friends.
Business is business.
Never mix personal stuff with business; it has never worked and never will. All the big online outfits want you to make money the more, the better; you make money they make money.
That simple.
There is this thing called a Facebook retargeting pixel, a snippet of code that you can inject into your website.
The little fellow goes to work collecting info. You create a campaign and retarget visitors that have been to your website.
You know the one, you look at a cruise, and then the next thing, all you see is cruises, you click on, an ad for something, and then next minute it follows you around the internet.
The normal response.
" No, no, no, I am not going there; no way that is way too creepy, no way."
We have thresholds that we all hold.
Mention to someone in a business, with a web presence, that this could be something to add to their marketing strategy.
Still, a bridge too far; " no way, not happening on my watch. "
Mention to someone in a business, with a web presence, that all their competitors are using this technique.
Sign me up now. Like yesterday!
Our online experience is all relative depending on what side of the fence we are on. Some marketers are caught in the in-between " no man's land."
A foot in each camp, it can slow your progress. Seriously we all need to make the transition.
Reflections on Facebook.
We need to go back to the grassroots initially. Some friends in a dorm created it as a way for them to share their life encounters and reflections amongst friends.
Let's face it as friends; we share some pretty out-there stuff that only friends get and find funny. For someone outside the circle looking on, it can seem random and disconnected.
How many times do we see that comment about the crap that is shared on Facebook?
I am sure that we have all had the experience of that friend whose relationship has ended, and Facebook has become their release valve.
Oh, the joy when they meet someone new and move on with their life.
Days end it is friends stuff, and real friends accept each other warts and all.
When we come to the online world, we are entering a different zone, and to be honest, it is a zone that is not traveled by many. It can be constructive to look with a different set of eyes, not judging instead, observing.
Initially, it may be that you slip back into your old ways; it can be hard to develop that dual vision of personal and business and working out the boundaries of both.
Facebook offers marketers some excellent opportunities it is not going to change; look at their balance sheet.
As our journey evolves, we need to change our perspective. As soon as you signed up to the, " make money online change your life world.", all the parameters changed. The thing is that what I tend to observe is that many of us can drag the chain when it comes to moving on to our new worlds.
Expeince speaking there.
The key is learning how to work it.
Alex Evans
Recent Comments
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"Currently getting huge value through Facebook groups."
Knowing your target audience, who they are and where they hang out.
Taking time to watch and listen. Is there something we can help them with ?
I think this is my next 'stage' or at least part of it.
Always a darn good read Alex, thank you.
Hi, Twack, I think knowing our audiences and knowing where they hang out can actually create some very good outcomes; if we apply some purposeful engagement.
With Facebook groups there can be three aspects;
- We join associated groups for the knowledge value and resources that they bring.
- We join groups, that are associated with our niche exploration, to enable us to interact and engage.
-We create our own group to enable us to control the flow and create a community usually around our area of interest or niche activity.
In every case, the quality of content sets the tone.
Best wishes with your exploration, Twack, and thank you for stopping by.
Alex
Thank you Alex, you're very welcome. I shall bear the three aspects in miind as I move into that area.
Good Morning Alex,
Reading your post I do not understand the following phrase: if you publish sales copy thinking it is content.
I started on Facebook as everybody told me I need those likes as Google likes them. I did not like FB in the beginning and found the setup rather confusing. It always takes me time to understand technical procedures.
I have been often shocked by what I see and now know to never click on something you cannot immediately see as the content is nightmarish. I did once and still, after weeks cannot get it out of my head, really haunting that image.
People often show an aspect of their beliefs which was kind of hidden before, some times a real eye-opener to the viewer.
How peaceful WA is compared to FB.
Greetings from the south of Spain,
Taetske
Hi Taetske, as to sales copy verses web copy or content, this maybe helpful. Make the Breakthrough There is Content Writing and there is Copy Writing Facebook is a large place, like a massive city. In every city there are places we don't go.
Most users are there for personal reasons, we should have our filters on some do not.
On the marketing side if we can develop a dual vision,we can find a space that suits us.
Although having said that some posts and images can lane leave am impression.
Not necessarily a good impression.
Even so if we are aware and manage our presence, Facebook can deliver exceptional value.
Currently getting huge value through Facebook groups.
Have a lovely day.
Alex.
Thank you Alex for the link, it answered my question. I fall into the content writing group.
I have joined 3 groups. A private body/mind/spirit group, well that is my definition of it, it is a private group. I publish my post on there.
Then a CBD group, public, and a Blogger group, now private, where we help each other. Recently did some backlinking and hope it will continue.
I have noticed giving likes here and there those people, some of them, show up and give likes on my posts too so my impression is that it is going upwards.
Have a great weekend.
Greetings from the south of Spain,
Taetske
Hi, Taetske, so pleased to hear that, if we can define the difference between web content and sales copy we are well on the way leveraging the content that we create.
How many times do we see it, " my account got banned ".
The things about groups are that we can associate and both give and receive value. One of the key elements is to gradually mature our presence.
Once again people dive in and post post post, many think it is Facebook that is doing the banning 9 out of 10 it is a fellow group member, pushing the button and raising the flag.
As long as the content is relevant and any comments stretch beyond " great post " we can really leverage the energy that we are applying.
It is like anything online, gradually and purposefully building a presence will always bring results.
I would say you are doing both Taetske.
Alex
Facebook.. yes I have family and friends that spill it all on there. That's not for me. But I do think Facebook can be good for business. Thanks for the great post, Alex.
Happy Leap Day,
Mickey
Hi Mickey, it can be like that at times, for most folks.
It can be really helpful if we can as marketers develop that dual vision.
Have an awesome day Mickey.
Alex
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No business it too big: Ask IBM, AT&T, GMC, etc, at one time it was thought that nobody could catch them. Granted AT&T was broken up by the government. The beginning of the end is when the companies stop listening or no longer know their audience. Think of the big 3 American Auto manufacturers in the 1968 -73, the Japanese starting eating their lunch with sales of small model vehicles. FB not wanting to recognize mobile products is playing chicken with approximately 25% of the market and is probably 75% millennials. Lets us see where this ends up going and/or when they change their mind?
Hi Edward, thank you so much for chiming in, If I had marks number on speed dial I would be giving him a call.
The hindsight of history is such a fine thing, so many last forever companies have gone by the wayside.
Nothing lasts forever if it did Rome would still be the central focus of the world.
It is not, the main lessons from history are that in order to remain relevant we all have to adapt and innovate when the winds of change start to blow.
I really appreciate your comment thank you for the great reminders.
Alex